Culture

Overview

Sidley has always understood that increasingly complex legal needs require a deeply integrated, collaborative approach. That understanding forms the basis of our commitment: an uncompromising dedication to top-tier talent, seamlessly connected by teamwork, focused on delivering successful results when and where our clients need them most.

We have long fostered a culture of collegiality and genuine respect that supports internal cooperation and rewards outstanding work. Our seasoned lawyers place a premium on collaboration, lending you assistance and experience on high-profile projects that can span multiple offices and practice areas.

Ultimately, we believe our culture sets us apart from many other law firms and will enhance the development and career satisfaction of you and your colleagues alike.

Associate Life

Associates are the future of the firm, and we are deeply invested in their success. At Sidley, associates at every level are encouraged to be visible within the firm and to challenge themselves every day. You will be pushed to cultivate detail, precision and nuance in your legal analytical skills while building deep knowledge of clients’ businesses. You will work side by side with partners on high-profile matters and have close client contact.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer associates an attractive and competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that provides a variety of choices to meet our lawyers’ needs.

Benefits for associates include:

Medical, dental and vision coverage

401(k) plan

Flexible spending account program

Disability, life and AD&D insurance

Student loan refinancing resources

Travel assistance program

Relocation reimbursement

Commuter benefits

Bar association fees

Work-Life Benefits

Sidley provides a variety of benefits to help lawyers better manage their work and personal lives. These include subsidized backup child and eldercare, an employee assistance program, working parent career coaching, healthcare advocacy services and a wellness program.

Parental Leave

Associates who act as primary caregivers may take 18 weeks of compensated parental leave in conjunction with the birth of a child. Ten weeks of compensated parental leave are provided to male or female primary caregivers of adopted children, and four weeks of compensated parental leave are available for male or female non-primary caregivers.

Pro Bono

Sidley’s pro bono program is as varied as our commercial practice. We consider every one of our pro bono matters important, whether they are of local, national or global significance. We have six firmwide initiatives that expand our impact around the globe: the Capital Litigation Project; the Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights Project; the Veterans Advocacy Project; the Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties Project; the Pro Bono Project for the Arts; and the Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program.

In addition to the work we do through our firmwide initiatives, we are proud of the diverse pro bono services we provide to address the critical legal needs of our neighbors and neighborhoods. We work on issues of national importance that bring our lawyers to the U.S. Supreme Court to advocate for human rights, and our international pro bono work is providing critical legal support to developing countries.